If your home is listed for sale or you need to sell quickly, you need all the help you can get. When competing against other homes for sale, staging your home is necessary. You may have heard the term staging a home before, but allow me to define it and provide pointers so that anyone can do what some professionals charge top dollar for.
Your house is probably decorated or furnished in your own taste and style. You have personal items surrounding you and that’s what makes it home. Our home is typically our pride and joy and a place that showcases who we are and what we like.
One thing always to remember is that when you’re selling your home, it should no longer reflect you or your family completely. You must put your home in magazine show room condition. You can no longer view rooms as your own, but a place that prospective buyers will be able to call home. You must view each room as though it were a hotel. Neutral to all that enter and simple enough to be able to imagine adding your own touch. Here are some basic tips and simple reminders when it comes to staging your home.
The yard and bushes should always be photo ready. Imagine taking a photo of the outside of your home and sending it in to homes magazine. Is it ready for this? Trim all bushes to showcase the windows and design of the home. Just like a haircut, you want to trim landscaping to add to the view and bring out the home’s best features. Decks, porches and driveways should be clear of any personal items including toys, gardening supplies, bikes, grills, etc.
There should only be one entry to the home for showings. This is the first impression. It should make an instant statement and the first view should be desirable. Entries should be free of any and all personal items such as shoes, coats, photos, your family name on the door, etc. Buyers should enter the front door even though many homeowners prefer other entrances. Make sure the buyer’s agent is aware that shoes should be removed upon entry. This lets the buyer know that you take pride in your home and have in the past. This also helps save on foot traffic and makes everyone a little more comfortable while walking through. Buyers tend to stay a bit longer in your home and feel more at ease when their shoes and coats are off.
Music is often soothing and can help take the edge off a possible awkward situation as a buyer is looking inside their first possible home. If you have a good surround system, turn on light jazz or another station that is easy listening. Make sure to keep it low enough to not interfere with conversation. The scent of the home should be kept unnoticeable and to a minimum. Avoid strong smelling air fresheners. The home should smell simply clean.
Furniture should be rearranged in each room if possible to allow for the most space. Many homeowners just have too much furniture in each room. Remove as many things as possible and place them into storage. Select only your finest pieces for display. Accent furniture in hallways, bathrooms and bedrooms should be kept at a minimum. Remove throws, extra sofa and chair pillows, and any personal items. Bare is best.
Collectibles and personal items may add to your home’s character, but should always be removed while selling. End tables, entertainment centers, and bookshelves should all be kept as clutter free as possible. All photos should be packed away along with items such as trophies, photo albums, religious items, etc. Remove as many items from the walls as you can. Fill nail holes and paint if needed. The idea is to have the buyer imagine their belongings in its place and have less to focus on while viewing your home.
The home should be museum like. This can be rather hard considering you still need to live there daily. Counter tops should be cleared and clean. Kitchen appliances should be removed and things on the refrigerator such as magnets and photos also put away. Bathrooms should be free of all personal belongings and as roomy as possible. Keep accent items to a minimal and use no more than 3 colors for towels and accessories. Bedrooms and closets should show little about you. They should be general and free of clutter.
Whether you’re still living in your home while it’s for sale or the home will be vacant and empty, remember less is more. A lived in home may have too many items inside and feel cluttered, while a vacant home could lack signs of life. Having a well staged home is easy yet complicated. Lived in homes should show little signs of family activity, while keeping a few select pieces inside a vacant home can make a world of difference in the minds of prospective buyers.
Showing possible decorating ideas to buyers can certainly spark their imagination. Healthy indoor plants in select places in the home are wonderful. They aren’t personal and yet they manage to still show signs of life. Recessed lighting should always be turned on and show natural light when possible. Replace smaller decorative items and exchange them with larger pieces such as bold candlesticks or accent vases.
You’ll want to seek the opinion and advice of your real estate agent after completing the staging. A second eye from someone in the field is always helpful. Allowing a potential buyer for your home, room to see more space to add their own things adds to the value of the home psychologically. It’s the same principal when purchasing a new or even used car. You expect the new car smell, and for it to be detailed. No sign of the previous owner or salesman being inside the vehicle. Cleanliness, detailing and de-decorating is the key to staging your home.
We're here to help! Contact one of our selling specialists today for a free home analysis of your home in the Cleveland area.
Your house is probably decorated or furnished in your own taste and style. You have personal items surrounding you and that’s what makes it home. Our home is typically our pride and joy and a place that showcases who we are and what we like.
One thing always to remember is that when you’re selling your home, it should no longer reflect you or your family completely. You must put your home in magazine show room condition. You can no longer view rooms as your own, but a place that prospective buyers will be able to call home. You must view each room as though it were a hotel. Neutral to all that enter and simple enough to be able to imagine adding your own touch. Here are some basic tips and simple reminders when it comes to staging your home.
The yard and bushes should always be photo ready. Imagine taking a photo of the outside of your home and sending it in to homes magazine. Is it ready for this? Trim all bushes to showcase the windows and design of the home. Just like a haircut, you want to trim landscaping to add to the view and bring out the home’s best features. Decks, porches and driveways should be clear of any personal items including toys, gardening supplies, bikes, grills, etc.
There should only be one entry to the home for showings. This is the first impression. It should make an instant statement and the first view should be desirable. Entries should be free of any and all personal items such as shoes, coats, photos, your family name on the door, etc. Buyers should enter the front door even though many homeowners prefer other entrances. Make sure the buyer’s agent is aware that shoes should be removed upon entry. This lets the buyer know that you take pride in your home and have in the past. This also helps save on foot traffic and makes everyone a little more comfortable while walking through. Buyers tend to stay a bit longer in your home and feel more at ease when their shoes and coats are off.
Music is often soothing and can help take the edge off a possible awkward situation as a buyer is looking inside their first possible home. If you have a good surround system, turn on light jazz or another station that is easy listening. Make sure to keep it low enough to not interfere with conversation. The scent of the home should be kept unnoticeable and to a minimum. Avoid strong smelling air fresheners. The home should smell simply clean.
Furniture should be rearranged in each room if possible to allow for the most space. Many homeowners just have too much furniture in each room. Remove as many things as possible and place them into storage. Select only your finest pieces for display. Accent furniture in hallways, bathrooms and bedrooms should be kept at a minimum. Remove throws, extra sofa and chair pillows, and any personal items. Bare is best.
Collectibles and personal items may add to your home’s character, but should always be removed while selling. End tables, entertainment centers, and bookshelves should all be kept as clutter free as possible. All photos should be packed away along with items such as trophies, photo albums, religious items, etc. Remove as many items from the walls as you can. Fill nail holes and paint if needed. The idea is to have the buyer imagine their belongings in its place and have less to focus on while viewing your home.
The home should be museum like. This can be rather hard considering you still need to live there daily. Counter tops should be cleared and clean. Kitchen appliances should be removed and things on the refrigerator such as magnets and photos also put away. Bathrooms should be free of all personal belongings and as roomy as possible. Keep accent items to a minimal and use no more than 3 colors for towels and accessories. Bedrooms and closets should show little about you. They should be general and free of clutter.
Whether you’re still living in your home while it’s for sale or the home will be vacant and empty, remember less is more. A lived in home may have too many items inside and feel cluttered, while a vacant home could lack signs of life. Having a well staged home is easy yet complicated. Lived in homes should show little signs of family activity, while keeping a few select pieces inside a vacant home can make a world of difference in the minds of prospective buyers.
Showing possible decorating ideas to buyers can certainly spark their imagination. Healthy indoor plants in select places in the home are wonderful. They aren’t personal and yet they manage to still show signs of life. Recessed lighting should always be turned on and show natural light when possible. Replace smaller decorative items and exchange them with larger pieces such as bold candlesticks or accent vases.
You’ll want to seek the opinion and advice of your real estate agent after completing the staging. A second eye from someone in the field is always helpful. Allowing a potential buyer for your home, room to see more space to add their own things adds to the value of the home psychologically. It’s the same principal when purchasing a new or even used car. You expect the new car smell, and for it to be detailed. No sign of the previous owner or salesman being inside the vehicle. Cleanliness, detailing and de-decorating is the key to staging your home.
We're here to help! Contact one of our selling specialists today for a free home analysis of your home in the Cleveland area.
posted by Cleveland Real Estate at
1/20/2008
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